the real soul of the poet

the real soul of the poet

black Plath,

dark night,

dark knight

he shines no more

another lover

another excuse

another night writing with her

black Plath

heart of ash

flames turned cold blue fire

the tips hardened

unsteady flicker

he has picked her

his pen flared for the alternate beauty

while hers is dying inside

black Plath

so young 

so confused

so used,

his book the priority

his greatness weighed like Hamlet's

his tragedy, now hers

he moves on

and she spirals down

a flight of progressive stairs

of emptiness

can't get out of her own way

fingers burnt from the cigarettes 

she never used to smoke

life gets hazy

when your heart gets crazy

and the words get committed

visit her...she would appreciate your coming

maybe join her for a puff or two

a word or two

a lifeline before it breaks

before she breaks

her tragedy, now ours.

erin-cilberto

10/29/16

Reviews

[D Connolly]

I struggle with poetry because sometimes it's too vague and metaphorical and I don't know what the person is trying to say. I like this poem because I can understand it, and the words express a sadness for Plath and her life and also expresses love for her art. Good job

[jacob erin-cilberto]

thank you for your kind words, D.
j.

[Julia Ledo]

Theres a special place in everyone's heart for Plath. Great tribute to her

[jacob erin-cilberto]

thank you....and yes, she was one of the very best we had....but not for long enough.

j.

[Kirsty Woodward]

The 5th and 6th stanzas. Perfect.

[jacob erin-cilberto]

thank you, Kirsty...

j.

[Lydia Shutter]

They say all artists suffer from a bit of insanity. This poem seems to back that up. A psychological thriller here, Jacob. I can picture her spiraling into insanity....feeling empty....trying to make things clear with yet another puff of the cigarette. Words are all that matter and expressing them in just the right way seems like a never-ending quest. We all identify with each other when it comes to this. Plath....one of the greatest if you ask me. We can all feel the pain through her words. Wonderful work. Lydi**

[jacob erin-cilberto]

thank you for your kind review, Lydi.

j.

[V]

Finally I managed my way to your poems again and I am amazed. Really good poem, the content truly speaks to me, I think you already know how much I love her poetry and sometimes might discover a sense of her in my own mind/poetry. Thank you for sharing this one. One new favorite.

[jacob erin-cilberto]

i get a sense of her with your poetry as well, Vanessa...

thanks for your words on this one.

j.

[V]

That's such a nice thing to read, thank you a lot. That's great. You're welcome.

[aLittlePain]

Wow j! Plath was one of the first poets I fell in love with while at uni, she certainly left a lasting presence.
I wondered would she have written with such heart had she not suffered so much struggled so much?
It seems a curse that such talent has a short tormented existence. Brilliant j. R xo

[jacob erin-cilberto]

that is a good question...and probably the answer is that it is doubtful...she and Sexton were my masters' thesis....
thank you for your kind review...

j.
next to Dickinson, Sylvia is my favorite poet...

[h d e rushin]

they were all together Snodgrass, Kumin, Sexton, all in Lowell's poetry class trying to become confessional writers...But Plath wanted to be married...preferably to another writer. So when she met Ted she was smitten although I doubt if he ever was. I read the "Bell Jar" and was immediately stuck by her
inexperience at life, not at writing. Truth be told Jacob, I don't really know what her soul was and some people go through their entire lives living within another's soul that theirs never full develops . But that whole thing of wanting a poet-man, wanting children, wanting to live in Yeats' house etc. is so different than how her life turned out.

I caught the reference to Knight in the first stanza....another tortured soul at the opposite end of providence. The parallel being that tragedy, whether ours or someone elses, takes a real form
when it bleeds on the page. Perhaps "Ariel" was her suicide note and we were so caught up in her
difference and in her assonance that we didn't want to notice it. Our tragedy is that desire is only
desire if or when it is ultimately fulfilled.

well done brother......dana

[jacob erin-cilberto]

thank you for your extensive words and insights into this poem and Plath....well she did at least get to live in Yeats' house...she achieved that...and had kids...but yes, things didn't turn out for her as she had hoped.

j.

[Ken Simm.]

The understanding of her is so apparent here. And it must be said the understanding of him as he did not understand her. It takes the poet to do this. It takes skill to do this. It also takes a great deal of empathy.

[jacob erin-cilberto]

i really appreciate this review, Ken...

you make me feel like a poet.

j.

[Einstein Noodle]

so very young with talent acknowledged from the start ... such a pity depression was not looked at in the same way it is today ..you have certainly painted the villain and the Dark Beauty ... well done says i ..very emotive ..i am distressed and angry and grieving having read this one jacob ..i think it must be at the top of your long list of poems ..and what a tribute!
E.

[jacob erin-cilberto]

thank you for your kind words, E.

j.

[Jon Roggie]

Great write. She left a presence still felt.

[jacob erin-cilberto]

yes, still felt...a dream to be remembered like so many of the great poets...still read to this day

thank you, Jon.
j.